Sunday, March 4, 2012

Route 66 – The State of New Mexico

Route 66 – The State of New Mexico

Home of the Wild West, Carlsbad Caverns, Ancient Pueblos, The San

ta Fe Trail, and the birthplace of the first atomic weapon, the Dawn of the Nuclear Age….you can find it all in scenic New Mexico. You can also find Route 66 cutting across the state for almost 400 miles, with Tucumcari on the east and Gallup on the west. Today’s Interstate 40 has more or less straightened out the path for travelers, making it a much faster and smoother route, but there are still numerous sights to see along the old Mother Road as you travel through this state of breath taking landscape, including mountain peaks, red rock cliffs, and mesas. Ancient Native American Pueblos are still active today because of the spirit of the American Indians who dwell here.

Native to the state are coyotes, road runners, and red-hot peppers. It’s a very common sight to see red and green chili peppers in strings, draping entryways to homes and restaurants. When you don’t know whether to order your chile salsa in green or red, you just say Christmas, and you get some of both. Hot also describes the many festivals across the state, in the form of Hot Air Balloons. Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta occurs for about ten days the early part of October every year. They say it’s an amazing sight to behold as they lift off in their multi-faceted shapes and colors. It’s the predictable wind patterns that make flying possible and popular.

Santa Fe is the capital to the state of New Mexico, but it became a provincial capital in 1610, long before New Mexico became a state. The historic San Miguel Mission Church dates back that far also, and is still in use. In fact, it is considered to be our nation’s oldest active church. The Santa Fe Trail through here was mostly a trade route from 1821-1880 when the railroad came in and took over the transportation business. Route 66 originally went up through Santa Fe and back down through Albuquerque for the first ten years, up until 1937.

New Mexico is just one of those states you have to visit in order to appreciate the history and beauty of the state. Our son and daughter currently live there and have fallen in love with all the state has to offer, from the gorgeous terrain to the friendly people. So if you haven’t made New Mexico a destination, make plans to do so…even if just passing through on America’s Main Street, Route 66!

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